Andong is home to a community that was evicted from their land on the Phnom Penh riverside in 2006. Approximately one hour from the centre of the city, Andong residents struggle to make a living and as a result, extreme poverty, malnutrition and a wide range of social issues are rife. Our commitment to Andong is to provide long-term, sustainable opportunities for education and employment.
In 2011, we established Stellar Child Care Organisation (SCCO), our local Cambodian NGO. SCCO currently employs 15 staff to deliver our initiatives:
In 2011, we established Stellar Child Care Organisation (SCCO), our local Cambodian NGO. SCCO currently employs 15 staff to deliver our initiatives:
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Andong-based Education: Providing high quality early literacy through intensive school supplement programs and supporting Kork Rokar, the local primary school with additional classrooms, enrolment and teacher training
Family Support: Providing the necessary care to strengthen the family and community units and instil positive behaviours for improved learning potential Income Generation: Providing employment pathways for parents of children in our education projects via the Stella Foundation (our Cambodian-based Social Enterprise) |
Please see below for each of these initiatives...
Andong-based education...
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There are over 1000 children of school age in Andong currently not attending school. Our goal is to reduce this year-on-year.
We employ four full time teachers who work under the supervision of our Community Development Officer to deliver engaging early literacy programs in the hub of the Andong Community. We teach 155 children, 6 days a week, and provide extra nutrition, monthly life skills sessions and access to our Community Library. In addition, we work with Kork Rokar Primary School, running a ‘school bus’ service to get young children to school, delivering professional development sessions for teachers, and providing funding for learning resources. As Kork Rokar Primary School is over-populated, we are currently fundraising for build 5-10 new classrooms on the school grounds. These new classrooms will facilitate the enrollment of an additional 60-120 children each year. For more information on our school build initiative, please click here. |
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Family support...
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There are numerous social and economic reasons why children fall out of the education system in Cambodia. In addition to making education more accessible to the poor, we think supporting the family unit is the best way to get and keep kids in the classroom, which is why we provide the following services to families in Andong:
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In 2012, we opened a residential care facility for children at risk. Coming from homes broken by HIV, drug abuse, domestic abuse and extreme poverty, we provide a safe and stimulating environment where children can learn and be cared for, while their families get back on their feet. In 2018, we reintegrated our remaining at-risk children into supportive extended family units, where we'll continue to guide and counsel them in the loving environment of their family homes.
To date, we’ve directly helped over 50 families in Andong get back on their feet and start to provide a better life for themselves.
To date, we’ve directly helped over 50 families in Andong get back on their feet and start to provide a better life for themselves.
Income generation...
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We recognise that children can’t meet their potential without financial stability in the family home.
In 2016, we launched the Stellar Foundation - the first and only skilled employment opportunity inside the Andong Community. We currently employ six local mothers who work in a comfortable, safe and supportive environment. They are close to their families and while they work with us, their children can attend local schools. We work on local and international contracts, delivering excellent quality under the supervision of our highly experienced manager and trainer. The centre is a not-for-profit initiative, with all proceeds going towards fair wages, or being reinvested into our community projects. But we're always looking for new ideas and partners. Please check out our income generation page for more details of current stock and how we could potentially work together. |
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